New year of service and learning for Campus Corps

UMW News Bureau

The University of Montana Western Campus Corps is kicking off the new academic year with events honoring the second annual National Day of Service and Remembrance. Campus Corps is a program designed to connect students to their community through dedicated service. By Kaitlin Ens
[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="250" caption="Campus Corps volunteers collecting recycling in Dillon as part of the 2009 National Day of Service and Remembrance events."][/caption]
The University of Montana Western Campus Corps is kicking off the new academic year with events honoring the second annual National Day of Service and Remembrance. Campus Corps is a program designed to connect students to their community through dedicated service.
Led by Jon Stephani, the team has a four-day schedule planned stretching from Wednesday, Sept. 8 to Saturday, Sept. 11. The schedule includes a multitude of events all geared toward giving back and community awareness.
Wednesday’s event will take place in Montana Western’s Swysgood Technology Center Great Room. The film “Addicted to Plastic” will be shown free of charge at 7 p.m. Stephani said the movie is a documentary about the world’s use and misuse of plastic.
“It’s a personal and scientific journey,” Stephani said. “The impartial stance lets the audience decide what they want to think.”
Stephani said such a documentary provides a great opportunity for the UMW Campus Corps team to raise recycling awareness in the Dillon community.
The following evening on Thursday, Sept. 9, Tom Wagenknecht will give a guest lecture on energy conservation in Montana Western’s Block Hall Room 311 at 7 p.m. Wagenknecht is a Montana Energy Corps team member and a graduate of Montana Western. He has experience in a multitude of fields including construction, mechanics, energy issues, and environmental science.
“It will be a layman’s lecture on how to make rural Montana more energy efficient,” Stephani said.
The events for Friday, Sept. 10 will begin at 11:15 a.m. in front of Montana Western’s Student Union building. History, Philosophy, and Social Sciences Professor Sean Eudaily will be the keynote speaker for a second year. Stephani said Eudaily will “address the importance of giving back.” Stephani also said Eudaily’s speech will be a great inspiration for the planned events of the following day.
Saturday, Sept. 11, the ninth anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, will continue the theme of giving back. From 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. the UMW Campus Corps team will conduct a curbside recycling and food drive pickup. The curbside recycling will take place within Dillon city limits and includes glass, plastic, paper, cardboard, and small steel and aluminum cans. To arrange a recycling pickup call (406) 683-7202, e-mail campuscorps@umwestern.edu, or request a “Free Recycle Pickup and Food Drive” flyer via e-mail and place it in a location visible from the street.
“We will also collect and deliver any local food bank donations as we pickup people’s recyclables,” Stephani said.
After a morning spent scouring the community for recycling and food bank donations, the team has a fun afternoon planned for Dillon children. From 1 to 3 p.m. in the Dillon Jaycees Park the UMW Campus Corps team will show children how to make paper using recycled materials.
“We will also demonstrate how to make your own paint from everyday household materials,” Stephani said. “ The best part is all of it is bio-degradable.”
Throughout the four days, the UMW Campus Corps team will be aided by volunteers from the Montana Youth Challenge Academy, Montana Western students, Residence Hall Service Learning members, and community members. Together, all of them will strive to kick off Campus Corps’ new year by raising community awareness and a spirit of service.